A Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested a probationer for possessing a loaded handgun yesterday in rural Sonoma County. At about 6:30 PM last night a deputy working coastal patrol on the north Sonoma coast received a call of two men fighting with sticks in the 28000 block of Stewart Point Skaggs Springs Rd, near the Stewarts Point Rancheria. The deputy, who was nearby, responded to the call when he encountered a man, later identified as 31-year-old Robert Southwick of Santa Rosa, walking in the area carrying a chair.
When Southwick saw the deputy he immediately turned away from him and reached for the waistband of his pants. This quick movement appeared to the deputy that Southwick was trying to grab a handgun or conceal something. The deputy stopped his patrol car, exited and pointed his handgun at him while ordering Southwick to show his hands. Southwick complied and showed the deputy his hands. At that time the deputy noticed a bulky object in his pants. The deputy could see the black handle of a pistol protruding from his waistband. The deputy ordered him to put his gun on the ground and Southwick complied with the deputy’s orders.
The deputy detained Southwick in handcuffs and placed him in the back of his patrol car. The deputy then examined the handgun and found that it was a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with four rounds, one in the chamber ready to fire. Southwick also had 5 more rounds in his pocket. The handgun didn’t have any serial numbers and Southwick didn’t give any rational explanation as to how he acquired the gun. Detectives will follow up to see if the gun was reported stolen.
After securing the gun, the deputy continued to the address of the fight call and determined that Southwick and a second person had been in a fight. The deputy determined nobody was injured and nobody wanted charges pressed.
A records check revealed that Southwick is a convicted felon and was just placed on felony probation five days prior. Southwick was arrested for felon in possession of a firearm, violation of felony probation and carrying a concealed, loaded handgun. He was booked into the Sonoma County Jail and is being held without bail.
Prepared by: Sgt. Spencer Crum
CR170718-039
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